KARACHI: The residents of Defence Housing Authority and Clifton may heave a sigh of relief as the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation and the Frontier Works Organisation on Saturday signed an agreement to complete the laying of a dedicated pipeline from Dumlottee within 12 months to ease the chronic water problem in the salubrious vicinities of the city.

The agreement was signed in a ceremony attended by Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab and senior officials of KWSC and FWO.

“Upon completion of the project, an additional 10 million gallons per day (MGD) of water will be provided from Dumlottee to Defence and Clifton,” the mayor said, adding that the additional supply was an important step towards overcoming the water shortage.

He said that construction would begin next week and is targeted for completion within 12 months at an estimated cost of Rs14 billion.

With demand estimated at around 1,200 MGD, KWSC is currently able to supply only 550 to 650 MGD. The gap has left residents of Karachi heavily reliant on private tankers.

Calling it a joint initiative of the provincial government and KWSC, the mayor said that the provincial administration was working to make the city’s water supply system more efficient and sustainable.

While the 10 MGD addition is modest compared to the city’s overall deficit, officials project it as immediate relief that could be delivered within a year.

The ceremony was also attended, among others, by FWO Head Brig Adnan Akhtar Ali, Administrator DHA Brig Ameer Nawaz Khan, Local Government Secretary Dr Waseem Shamshad, MNA Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, PPP leader Syed Najmi Alam, KWSC CEO Ahmed Ali Siddiqui.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2026